Is Romney 'Preparing for a Major Fold' on Health Care?

Brad DeLong:

Why Oh Why Did the Republicans Nominate This Clown?, by Brad DeLong: ObamaCare allows parents to keep their young-adult children on their insurance, requires insurers to offer guaranteed issue and community rates, and imposes an individual mandate to purchase insurance on individuals.

Now comes Mitt Romney:

Romney says he won't repeal all of Obamacare: Mitt Romney says his pledge to repeal President Barack Obama's health law doesn't mean that young adults and those with medical conditions would no longer be guaranteed health care.

So there we have it: Romney will keep the parts of ObamaCare that are young-adult coverage, and guaranteed issue and community rates.

It continues:

The Republican presidential nominee says he'll replace the law with his own plan. He tells NBC's "Meet the Press" that the plan he worked to pass while governor of Massachusetts…

So there we have it: Romney will keep the parts of ObamaCare that imposes on individual mandate to purchase insurance.

So what's left?

Romney says he doesn't plan to repeal of all of Obama's signature health care plan. He says there are a number of initiatives he likes in the Affordable Care Act that he would keep in place if elected president…

Like: the whole thing. Duh.

There is something very wrong with anybody working for, contributing to, or arguing for Ryan-Romney right now.

Tyler Cowen pats himself on the back:

I would say he is preparing for a major fold on the issue. I’ve been predicting a Romney administration would block grant Medicaid, undo some or all of the Medicare savings in ACA, but essentially keep the mandate under a different label and then claim to have “repealed and replaced.” The story is here.

I won't complain about "a major fold" on healthcare, but it does bring up a question. Does Romney stand for anything? He seems to know how to set his principles aside and submit to the highest bidder -- something his touted business experience taught him I suppose. But with all of the flip-flops, Etch-a-Sketch moments, his refusal to take a stand on budget cuts, his dishonest campaigning, etc., etc., is there any principle that Romney won't conveniently overlook if it looks like there's a few votes to be gained?